Live updates: Follow the latest on Israel-Gaza
Barely a week after Hamas’s horrific attack on October 7 and Israel’s subsequent brutal war on the Gaza strip, in the course of my reporting I received some criticism from an Israeli friend and fellow journalist who told me to “be careful about undoing much of the progress of the Abraham Accords”, while a Palestinian friend was appalled that I was interviewing officials from Tel Aviv.
That day, the front page of The National’s newspaper carried the photograph of Alma Hashish, a little girl in Gaza who spoke to our correspondent in the enclave about the horrors of living through the war.
Alma was just one of more than 6,000 Gazans at the time of publication who had been injured in the recent Israeli bombing campaigns.
“Little Alma, her shattered family, and the young nephew she lost when the bombs rained down” was the headline above her photo.
The Israeli journalist asked why we weren’t focusing on the suffering of Israeli children in equal measure.
One Israeli official asked about the alleged reports of 40 beheaded babies. But that claim, first made in a report by the Israeli outlet i24News, has since been widely discredited.
Nonetheless, the report was at the time widely picked up, and echoed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s spokesman. It helped shape the already-fraught narrative and widened the polarisation that ensued in what is one of the most brutal, ugly and devastating wars of our generation.
I had asked the Israeli official for proof of those beheaded babies since they had admitted to seeing as such. I never received a direct answer, or even another phone call.
I was one of the first English-speaking journalists to get an official reaction and comment from Hamas, when Osama Hamdan, the Palestinian militant group’s political representative in Lebanon, confirmed to me that efforts toward mediation talks had begun two days after October 7. A contact at Hamas’s rival Palestinian group Fatah reprimanded me for giving the former “so much” attention during those early days.
Fatah reprimanded me for giving Hamas 'so much' attention during those early days
In that same October 9 article I had authored, I also spoke to Lior Haiat, an Israeli government spokesperson. In the weeks, and unfortunately months to come, I and many of my colleagues in the Arab media world would be accused of bias for speaking to all sides involved in the war. My former colleagues at AlArabiya Taher Barake and and Layal Al Ekhtiar – both Lebanese – are contending with possibly never going back to their home country. The reason is they both interviewed Avichay Adraee, who serves as the head of the Arab media division of the Israeli military. Both have pending warrants from the authorities in Lebanon due to a 1955 law on boycotting Israel that prohibits any and all interaction between Lebanese and Israelis.
I was in Lebanon this week and invited to attend a multi-sectarian forum at the Anwar Fatayri Foundation in Chouf, where this exact topic was debated. Former Lebanese Minister of Information Ghazi Aridi said cases like Taher’s and Layal’s are unfortunate as the spirit of the law in question has been interpreted to include journalists doing their jobs.
“The debate here is the law specifies all communication with the enemy. But the debate will always take place whether Lebanese journalists inviting Israeli guests on their broadcasts and asking tough questions constitute a betrayal of the law. It’s very unfortunate,” he told the audience at the forum.
Objectivity in journalism is a foundational principle, and there’s no need for me to debate that as a guiding rule that compels us to present all facts – and all sides – to the best of our ability.
Few stories have ever divided our world as much as the ongoing one on Gaza. There’s no doubt about it. In a conflict where both sides fail to see the other’s humanity, my colleagues and I have gone to painstaking efforts to report on the horrors this war has inflicted.
Audience perception plays a crucial role. Readers and viewers bring their own biases and preconceptions to the table. This war has only amplified that point. They often seek out news that aligns solely with their viewpoints, leading to echo chambers where only certain aspects of the conflict are highlighted. Our job as journalists in these troubling times to navigate these challenges has never been more profound, knowing that our efforts to present a whole-picture view might be dismissed or criticised by those firmly entrenched in their own perspectives.
If anything, the past nine months have shown that the cost of innocent lives at the expense of political interests is high.
When the world is adamant for us to choose sides, we’re trying our best to choose humanity. The only way forward is to do that as best we can. Failure to do so is as much a cardinal sin.
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
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Indoor cricket in a nutshell
Indoor cricket in a nutshell
Indoor Cricket World Cup - Sept 16-20, Insportz, Dubai
16 Indoor cricket matches are 16 overs per side
8 There are eight players per team
9 There have been nine Indoor Cricket World Cups for men. Australia have won every one.
5 Five runs are deducted from the score when a wickets falls
4 Batsmen bat in pairs, facing four overs per partnership
Scoring In indoor cricket, runs are scored by way of both physical and bonus runs. Physical runs are scored by both batsmen completing a run from one crease to the other. Bonus runs are scored when the ball hits a net in different zones, but only when at least one physical run is score.
Zones
A Front net, behind the striker and wicketkeeper: 0 runs
B Side nets, between the striker and halfway down the pitch: 1 run
C Side nets between halfway and the bowlers end: 2 runs
D Back net: 4 runs on the bounce, 6 runs on the full
Results
Stage 7:
1. Caleb Ewan (AUS) Lotto Soudal - 3:18:29
2. Sam Bennett (IRL) Deceuninck-QuickStep - same time
3. Phil Bauhaus (GER) Bahrain Victorious
4. Michael Morkov (DEN) Deceuninck-QuickStep
5. Cees Bol (NED) Team DSM
General Classification:
1. Tadej Pogacar (SLO) UAE Team Emirates - 24:00:28
2. Adam Yates (GBR) Ineos Grenadiers - 0:00:35
3. Joao Almeida (POR) Deceuninck-QuickStep - 0:01:02
4. Chris Harper (AUS) Jumbo-Visma - 0:01:42
5. Neilson Powless (USA) EF Education-Nippo - 0:01:45
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The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
Napoleon
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Manchester City (0) v Liverpool (3)
Uefa Champions League, quarter-final, second leg
Where: Etihad Stadium
When: Tuesday, 10.45pm
Live on beIN Sports HD
25-MAN SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Francis Uzoho, Ikechukwu Ezenwa, Daniel Akpeyi
Defenders: Olaoluwa Aina, Abdullahi Shehu, Chidozie Awaziem, William Ekong, Leon Balogun, Kenneth Omeruo, Jamilu Collins, Semi Ajayi
Midfielders: John Obi Mikel, Wilfred Ndidi, Oghenekaro Etebo, John Ogu
Forwards: Ahmed Musa, Victor Osimhen, Moses Simon, Henry Onyekuru, Odion Ighalo, Alexander Iwobi, Samuel Kalu, Paul Onuachu, Kelechi Iheanacho, Samuel Chukwueze
On Standby: Theophilus Afelokhai, Bryan Idowu, Ikouwem Utin, Mikel Agu, Junior Ajayi, Valentine Ozornwafor
Super Rugby play-offs
Quarter-finals
- Hurricanes 35, ACT 16
- Crusaders 17, Highlanders 0
- Lions 23, Sharks 21
- Chiefs 17, Stormers 11
Semi-finals
Saturday, July 29
- Crusaders v Chiefs, 12.35pm (UAE)
- Lions v Hurricanes, 4.30pm
Tonight's Chat on The National
Tonight's Chat is a series of online conversations on The National. The series features a diverse range of celebrities, politicians and business leaders from around the Arab world.
Tonight’s Chat host Ricardo Karam is a renowned author and broadcaster with a decades-long career in TV. He has previously interviewed Bill Gates, Carlos Ghosn, Andre Agassi and the late Zaha Hadid, among others. Karam is also the founder of Takreem.
Intellectually curious and thought-provoking, Tonight’s Chat moves the conversation forward.
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Cricket World Cup League 2 Fixtures
Saturday March 5, UAE v Oman, ICC Academy (all matches start at 9.30am)
Sunday March 6, Oman v Namibia, ICC Academy
Tuesday March 8, UAE v Namibia, ICC Academy
Wednesday March 9, UAE v Oman, ICC Academy
Friday March 11, Oman v Namibia, Sharjah Cricket Stadium
Saturday March 12, UAE v Namibia, Sharjah Cricket Stadium
UAE squad
Ahmed Raza (captain), Chirag Suri, Muhammad Waseem, CP Rizwan, Vriitya Aravind, Asif Khan, Basil Hameed, Rohan Mustafa, Kashif Daud, Zahoor Khan, Junaid Siddique, Karthik Meiyappan, Akif Raja, Rahul Bhatia
EA Sports FC 25
Developer: EA Vancouver, EA Romania
Publisher: EA Sports
Consoles: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4&5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S
Rating: 3.5/5
Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
Five personal finance podcasts from The National
To help you get started, tune into these Pocketful of Dirham episodes
·
Balance is essential to happiness, health and wealth
·
What is a portfolio stress test?
·
What are NFTs and why are auction houses interested?
·
How gamers are getting rich by earning cryptocurrencies
·
Should you buy or rent a home in the UAE?
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
Infiniti QX80 specs
Engine: twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6
Power: 450hp
Torque: 700Nm
Price: From Dh450,000, Autograph model from Dh510,000
Available: Now
THE LIGHT
Director: Tom Tykwer
Starring: Tala Al Deen, Nicolette Krebitz, Lars Eidinger
Rating: 3/5
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
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Oppenheimer
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We Weren’t Supposed to Survive But We Did
We weren’t supposed to survive but we did.
We weren’t supposed to remember but we did.
We weren’t supposed to write but we did.
We weren’t supposed to fight but we did.
We weren’t supposed to organise but we did.
We weren’t supposed to rap but we did.
We weren’t supposed to find allies but we did.
We weren’t supposed to grow communities but we did.
We weren’t supposed to return but WE ARE.
Amira Sakalla
How does ToTok work?
The calling app is available to download on Google Play and Apple App Store
To successfully install ToTok, users are asked to enter their phone number and then create a nickname.
The app then gives users the option add their existing phone contacts, allowing them to immediately contact people also using the application by video or voice call or via message.
Users can also invite other contacts to download ToTok to allow them to make contact through the app.
Slow loris biog
From: Lonely Loris is a Sunda slow loris, one of nine species of the animal native to Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Singapore
Status: Critically endangered, and listed as vulnerable on the International Union for Conservation of Nature red list due to growing demand in the global exotic pet trade. It is one of the most popular primate species found at Indonesian pet markets
Likes: Sleeping, which they do for up to 18 hours a day. When they are awake, they like to eat fruit, insects, small birds and reptiles and some types of vegetation
Dislikes: Sunlight. Being a nocturnal animal, the slow loris wakes around sunset and is active throughout the night
Superpowers: His dangerous elbows. The slow loris’s doe eyes may make it look cute, but it is also deadly. The only known venomous primate, it hisses and clasps its paws and can produce a venom from its elbow that can cause anaphylactic shock and even death in humans
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Emirates Cricket Board Women’s T10
ECB Hawks v ECB Falcons
Monday, April 6, 7.30pm, Sharjah Cricket Stadium
The match will be broadcast live on the My Sports Eye Facebook page
Hawks
Coach: Chaitrali Kalgutkar
Squad: Chaya Mughal (captain), Archara Supriya, Chamani Senevirathne, Chathurika Anand, Geethika Jyothis, Indhuja Nandakumar, Kashish Loungani, Khushi Sharma, Khushi Tanwar, Rinitha Rajith, Siddhi Pagarani, Siya Gokhale, Subha Srinivasan, Suraksha Kotte, Theertha Satish
Falcons
Coach: Najeeb Amar
Squad: Kavisha Kumari (captain), Almaseera Jahangir, Annika Shivpuri, Archisha Mukherjee, Judit Cleetus, Ishani Senavirathne, Lavanya Keny, Mahika Gaur, Malavika Unnithan, Rishitha Rajith, Rithika Rajith, Samaira Dharnidharka, Shashini Kaluarachchi, Udeni Kuruppuarachchi, Vaishnave Mahesh
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Brief scoreline:
Crystal Palace 2
Milivojevic 76' (pen), Van Aanholt 88'
Huddersfield Town 0
WOMAN AND CHILD
Director: Saeed Roustaee
Starring: Parinaz Izadyar, Payman Maadi
Rating: 4/5
Small Victories: The True Story of Faith No More by Adrian Harte
Jawbone Press
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
